Mahwah police investigated 14 car burglaries between Dec. 22 and Feb 3. In each case, a car window was smashed and either a radar detector or GPS unit was taken, Batelli said.

Using video surveillance tapes from one of the businesses where a car was broken into, police identified a vehicle suspected of being used in the burglaries. Its description was broadcast to police, Batelli said, and Officer Daniel Stewart spotted a car matching that description parked at a local diner last month.

Vehicle records found it belongs to a girlfriend of Lovrich's and that he had previously received a motor vehicle summons while driving it.

Further investigation by Detective Kevin Hubert led to an eBay account belonging to Lovrich offering radar detectors and GPS units, all of which were similar to ones being reported stolen in the car burglaries, police said.

They contacted buyers of items Lovrich had sold and identified several items that had been reported stolen, Batelli said.

When Lovrich was arrested, 10 packs of heroin, drug paraphernalia and a "window center-punch tool," used to smash the car windows were found in his possession, the police chief said.

"In general, we are seeing more crimes being committed by those individuals who are either in possession of heroin or have a narcotic problem," Batelli said.

"I do not believe it is a stretch to say that those who have a narcotic problem need cash to support their habit and often turn to criminal activities," he added.

Lovrich was charged with 14 counts of car burglary, 14 counts of theft, 14 counts of criminal mischief, 14 counts of possession of a burglar's tool, one count of possession of heroin and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on $20,000 bail and is due in Mahwah Municipal Court on Tuesday.

"The investigation is ongoing and we will be meeting with other agencies next week to discuss similar open cases they may have," Batelli said.